The La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce & Community Association has issued a statement that it endorses the LCUSD Parcel Tax Measure LC.

The statement in part says that, although not a business issue on the surface, the chamber’s executive committee felt that the parcel tax issue was relevant for the consideration of the chamber as the organization is also a community association.

Wes Seastrom, chairman of the board said, “It is the chamber’s position that the health and well-being of our public schools is vitally important to the vibrancy of our entire community, including our business environment and our property values.”

The chamber believes there are times when a particular tax may very well be in the best long term interests of both residents and merchants/commercial property owners and, according to Wes, “this is one of those instances.”

Pat Anderson, chamber CEO agreed.

“Supporting our community – our entire community – is nothing new. In the early 1960s when the La Cañada Unified School District was formed, the chamber issued a solid endorsement and again in 2009 when the parcel tax was voted on,” Anderson stated.

Supporters state that Measure LC will renew stable, local funding that will expire next year and will appear on the March 4, 2014 ballot. According to the statement, last year 99% of La Cañada high school graduates enrolled in post-secondary institutions and many are attending the nation’s top universities.

“We must stay ahead of current and future state budget cuts to education and local funding has proved to be the armor against attacks from the state,” said Anderson.